I got this book on a nurse-practitioner's advice several years ago to read about women's health issues, but I just discovered it has a scathing critique of circumcision. The fact that it was written by a physician (Dr. Christiane Northrup) who used to do circumcisions and that it debunks all of the myths about circumcision is very powerful. It might be one of the the best summaries of circumcision I have read. Here are a couple of excerpts:
"Circumcision is a perfect example of the triumph of emotion and outdated and unproven beliefs over common sense and scientific data."
"I've seen circumcisions done in the delivery room. Welcome to the world, baby boy - now to initiate you properly, we're going to cut off one of the most sensitive parts of your body with no anesthesia!"
She goes on to say that even the nerve blocks are painful to administer and don't always work and to detail the consequences of circumcision on infant sleep patterns and on the penis later in life. She says she was taught in medical school that infants couldn't feel pain (!) but that they truly screamed loudly when she started cutting (and that she is incapable of doing any more circumcisions).
I would recommend it!
"Circumcision is a perfect example of the triumph of emotion and outdated and unproven beliefs over common sense and scientific data."
"I've seen circumcisions done in the delivery room. Welcome to the world, baby boy - now to initiate you properly, we're going to cut off one of the most sensitive parts of your body with no anesthesia!"
She goes on to say that even the nerve blocks are painful to administer and don't always work and to detail the consequences of circumcision on infant sleep patterns and on the penis later in life. She says she was taught in medical school that infants couldn't feel pain (!) but that they truly screamed loudly when she started cutting (and that she is incapable of doing any more circumcisions).
I would recommend it!